High zinc rice variety - DRR Dhan 45 (IET 23832)

IET 23832 is a biofortified semi-dwarf, medium duration (125 days) variety with non-lodging plant type and long slender grains for irrigated conditions. It is the first high zinc rice variety notified at national level with over all mean zinc content of 22.6ppm (24.0ppm in AP,KA&TN) in polished rice, developed through conventional breeding without compromising yield using the material from HarvestPlus. Based on high zinc content and yield performance over 5 t/ha, it is released for the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It has good cooking quality with desirable amylose content (20.7%). It is moderately resistant to blast, sheath rot and rice tungro virus. The variety is a proof of concept for Biofortfication and can address the hidden hunger or mineral malnutrition, thus targeting nutritional security of the nation.